File-drawer dividers



Sept. 7, 1965 M. KLEFFMAN FILE-DRAWER DIVIDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1963 INVENTOR: MILDRED KLEFFMAN ATT'YS p 7, 1965 M. KLEFFMAN 3,204,639

FILE-DRAWER DIVIDERS Filed Sept. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,204,639 FILE-DRAWER DIVIDERS Mildred Klefl'man, 8600 Wolf Road, Rte. 1, Hinsdale, Ill. Filed Sept. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 311,834 9 Claims. (CL 12916.8)

This invention relates to indexing file-drawer dividers.

The conventional file-drawer has a series of dividers spaced apart front to rear of the drawer and usually held in place by a rod extending longitudinally along the bottom of the drawer. This permits front to rear adjusted positioning of the series of dividers to accommodate various groups of file folders between the successive dividers. The indexing tabs on the dividers generally are arranged in five different uniformly-spaced positions along the top edges of the dividers. This provides for the index tabs to be exposed to view in groups of five transversely of the file drawer. The most acceptable arrangement of such dividers is achieved when they can be located in the drawer so that the index tabs are on each five successive dividers in their transverse arrangement and are aligned in their front to rear arrangement.

The main objects of this invention are: to provide a new and novel improved structuring of indexing-dividers for file-drawers; to provide an improved form and arrangement of indexing tabs on file-drawer dividers which permits the selective positioning of the indexing tabs in any one of a plurality of positions across the divider; and to provide an improved adjustable indexing-tab divider of this kind of such simple and practical construction as to make its marketing very economical and its use extremely facile and effective.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is one adaptation of an adjustable indexing-tab file drawer divider constructed in accordance with this invention, the indexing tab being shown in full outline in one position on the divider and in broken outline in an adjusted position on the same divider;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of this improved indexing-tab divider taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective View of the adjustable indexing-tab shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the same;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another adaptation of an adjustable indexing tab file-divider constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the divider shown in FIG. 5 taken on the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of the adjustable indexing tab shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the same.

i The essential concept of this invention involves a conventionally dimensioned file-drawer divider having a slot arranged parallel inwardly along its top perimeter from which slot extend a transverse series of predeterminedly-spaced notches and an index-tab holder mounted for Sliding along the top perimeter of the divider by pins extending through the slot, one or more of which pins are seatable in the respective notches for tentative retention of the holder at one of the requisite positions on the divider and which prevent lateral movement of the tab when in seated position.

A file-drawer indexing-divider embodying the foregoing concept comprises a panel 11 having a slot 12 disposed adjacently along its top perimeter opening into a series of transverse notches 13 and mounting an indexing-tab holder 14 having pins 15 extending through the slot 12 to permit shifting the holder 14 along the 13,24,639 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 "Ice panel 11 for seating certain of the pins 15 in selected notches 13 for the tentative retention of the holder 12 in any one of a plurality of positions along the top perimeter of the panel.

The panel 11, for either of the hereinshown adaptations, may be constructed from any of the conventional materials used for file-drawer dividers. Likewise, such dividers as herein shown may be of the same dimensions as the conventional dividers used for any of the sizes or types of file drawers.

The slot 12 is formed to extend inwardly adjacent and parallel to the top perimeter of the panel 11, terminating at points reasonably short of the lateral edges of the panel. The notches 13, of predetermined spacing and opening into the slot 12, are of comparatively short depth.

In the adaptation shown in FIGS. 1-4, the panel 11 is approximately 12 inches wide and 9 /2 inches high, being adapted for use in a conventional file-drawer for letters. The five notches 13 are spaced approximately 2 inches apart each way from the medial notch. This provides for the five positions of indexing tabs conventional with this type of file-drawer indexing divider. For file-drawers fo legal documents there could be more than five indexing-tab positions.

The holder 14, in this adaptation of FIGS. l-4, is structured from transparent, hard-plastic. It is formed with a horizontally-disposed pocket 16 for the insertion of an indexing tab 17. The portion depending from this pocketed part is a bifurcated stem 18 straddling the top perimeter of the panel 11. A curved recess 19, at the back edge of the holder pocket 16, provides for contact of a finger with the indexing tab 17 when being inserted into or removed from the pocket 16. Also, the holder 14 is formed with a short transverse slot 21 in the bifurcated stem 18 to provide for the shifting of the middle one of the three pins 15.

The three pins 15 in this adaptation, which slidably support and provide for the positioning of the holder 14 at any one of the five positions, made possible by the notches 13, may be rivets or any other suitable form of fastener. The middle pin 15a is shiftable in the holder slot 21 for seating in any of the notches 13.

The two outer pins 15 ensure a firm positioning and a most facile shifting of the holder 14 on the panel 11. Although the use of three pins 15 is preferred, it would be possible and practical to use only the middle pin 15a, since the straddling of the bifurcated stem 18 would retain the holder against any material rocking on the axis of one such pin.

In the use of the adaptation shown in FIGS. 1-4, the shifting of the middle pin 15a upwardly in the holder slot 21 will free the holder 14 for movement to any one of the five indexing positions provided for by the seating of the pin 15a in the respective notches 13. Thus, in a file-drawer, constantly in use and subject to re-arrangement of the contents, the holders 14 may be so set in each successive five panels 11, front to rear of the drawer, that the indexing tabs always are arranged in the successive five positions transversely of the drawer. This provides for the constant best viewing for the index tabs in a loaded file drawer.

.In the adaptation shown in FIGS. 5-8 the panel 11 is about three-quarters of an inch shorter in vertical dimension than the panel for the modification of FIGS. 14. This is for the reason that the slot 12 and the notches 13 are formed in a disparate strip 22 bonded along the top perimeter of the panel 11. Preferably, a narrower stiffening strip 23, of the same material as the strip 22, is superimposed along the other face of the panel 11 and similarly bonded to the strip 22 and the panel 11. As here shown, the stiffening strip 23 is aligned with the lower portion of the notched strip 22 so as to provide a groove 24 between the strips 22 and 23 and above the top perimeter of the panel 11. The function of this groove 24 will be explained presently.

The notches 13, in this adaptation, are arranged in five uniformly spaced pairs. Each pair of notches are spaced apart uniformly approximately 1% of an inch. One such pair of notches 13 is located medially of the strip 22. The other pairs are uniformly spaced between the medial pair and the opposite lateral edges of the strip 22. As is clearly evident from FIG. 5, the spacing between each pair of notches 13 is materially less than the uniform spacing between the notches of each pair. This prevents the holder 14 from being functionally positioned on the panel 11 at other than one of the five pairs of notches 13.

The holder 14, for the adaptation shown in FIGS. 8, is formed of two thin plates 26 and 27 spaced apart the thickness of the strip 22 and slidably mounted on the strip 22 by a pair of pins 15 extending through the slot 12. Such spacing of the plates 26 and 27 provides for the pocket 16 for the reception of the indexing tab 17. Also, these plates 26 and 27 provide a bifurcated stem 18 straddling the slotted strip 22 quite as the holder 14 for the adaptation of FIGS. l4 straddles the panel 11.

The plate 22 is cut out to form a window 28 leading downwardly from a slit 29 along the top edges of the plates 26 and 27. The slit 2 permits the insertion or removal of the indexing-tab 17 for exposure to viewing through the window 28.

An inverted U-shaped gate 31 is hinged on a pivot 32 at one upper corner of the plates 22 and 23. In a vertical position this gate 31 permits the insertion or removal of an indexing tab 17. In a closed position, overlapping the top edges of the plates 26 and 27, the gate 31 ensures retention of the indexing-tab 17 in the holder 14.

The two pins 15, in this adaptation, are spaced apart the same distance as the uniform spacing of notches 13 in each pair thereof.

In the use of this adaptation the desired positioning of the indexing-tab holder 14 is effected by first elevating the holder 14 to locate both of pins 15 in the slot 12. The holder 14, then, may be shifted along the slotted strip 22 to the desired indexing position. Such position can be effected only when the two pins 15 in the holder 14 register with and can be pressed down into a pair of the notches 13. When so pressed down the lower edge of the holder plate 23 is depressed into the groove 24. This serves to further secure the holder 14 in its selected indexing position.

It will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A file-drawer indexing-divider of conventional material and dimension having a slot extending inwardlyparallel along the top perimeter thereof and having a plu rality of notches disposed transversely of and opening into the slot at predetermined intervals, an index-tab holder, and a pin secured to the holder and extending through the slot and slidable therein for supporting the holder for movement along the top perimeter of the divider, the pin being seatable in one of the notches for the tentative retention of the holder at a predetermined indexing position on the divider.

2. A file-drawer indexing-divider as set forth in claim 1 wherein the holder has a slot disposed transversely of the divider slot whereby the pin is shiftable from the slot into a notch to position the holder in indexing position and out of the notch into the slot to permit sliding of the holder along the divider.

3. A file-drawer indexing-divider as set forth in claim 1 wherein the holder is formed with a pocket for the insertion therein of an index tab having the markings thereon exposed to view at the front of the holder.

4. A file-drawer indexing-divider as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of spaced pins are secured to the holder both of which are simultaneously seatable in selected pairs of notches to secure the holder in indexing position.

5. A file-drawer indexing-divider as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slot and the notches are formed in a disparate strip bonded to the divider material.

6. A file-drawer indexing-divider of conventional material and dimension having a slot extending inwardly parallel along the top perimeter thereof and having a plurality of uniformly-spaced notches disposed transversely below and opening into the slot, an index-tab holder, a pair of spaced pins secured to the holder and extending through the slot and slidable therein for supporting the holder for movement along the divider, the holder having a slot located therein intermediate the pair of pins and disposed transversely of the divider slot, and a pin shiftable in the holder slot for the alternative registering with the divider slot or seating in any one of the divider notches to, respectively, permit shifting of the holder along the divider or the tentative retention of the holder at a predetermined indexing position on the divider.

7. A file-drawer indexing-divider as set forth in claim 6 wherein the holder is transparent, hard-plastic and has a pocket for the insertion of an indexing tab.

8. A file-drawer indexing-divider of conventional material and dimension, a comparatively narrow strip of disparate material bonded along the top perimeter of the divider, the strip having a narrow slot extending longitudinally thereof and having a plurality of pairs of uniformly-spaced transverse notches opening into the slot, an index-tab holder, a pair of pins of the same spacing as the pairs of notches secured to the holder and extending through the slot and slidable therein for supporting the holder for movement along the divider, the holder being positionable on the divider with the pair of pins seated in any one of the pairs of notches for the tentative retention of the holder at a predetermined indexing position on the divider.

9. A file-drawer indexing-divider as set forth in claim 8 wherein the spacing between the pairs of notches is different from the spacing between each pair of notches whereby the holder can be tentatively retained in indexing position only when the pairs of pins are seated in a pair of notches.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,245 4/07 Newald 129-16.8 1,140,480 5/15 Rand 129l6.7 1,272,149 7/18 Thompson 129l6.7 1,714,929 5/29 Smith 116l35 X 2,122,223 6/38 Dolen 12916.8

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FILE-DRAWER INDEXING-DIVIDER OF CONVENTIONAL MATERIAL AND DIMENSION HAVING A SLOT EXTENDING INWARDLYPARALLEL ALONG THE TOP PERIMETER THEREOF AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF AND OPENING INTO THE SLOT AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS, AN INDEX-TAB HOLDER, AND A PIN SECURED TO THE HOLDER AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOT AND SLIDABLE THEREIN FOR SUPPORTING THE HOLDER FOR MOVEMENT ALONG THE TOP PERIMETER OF THE DIVIDER, THE PIN BEING SEATABLE IN ONE OF THE NOTCHES FOR THE TENTATIVE RETENTION OF THE HOLDER AT A PREDETERMINED INDEXING POSITION ON THE DIVIDER. 